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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, For three decades, Austin attorney Gary Bledsoe has |
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rendered exceptional service as president of the Texas NAACP; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Bledsoe earned his juris doctor degree from The |
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University of Texas School of Law, where he was president of the |
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Class of 1976; his practice areas have included public interest, |
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employment, and civil rights law, and in recognition of his legal |
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acumen, he received a coveted AV professional rating from |
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Martindale-Hubbell; he has also been awarded Lawyer of the Year |
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honors from the Travis County Bar Association and several other |
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organizations; and |
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WHEREAS, This well-respected legal professional has long |
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championed the work of the NAACP, and he has held the office of |
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president of the Texas NAACP since being elected in 1991; he has |
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additionally served on the NAACP's national board since 2003, and |
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he currently chairs the organization's National Criminal Justice |
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Committee; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his affiliation with the NAACP, Mr. Bledsoe |
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has been a staunch defender of civil rights; he handled cases |
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involving allegations of discrimination against the Texas |
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Department of Public Safety, and he further lent his expertise to |
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the Austin Cedar Avenue case that led to widespread changes in how |
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instances of police brutality are addressed; the landmark |
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settlement for that case was used to create a scholarship program |
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for college-bound minority youth, and Mr. Bledsoe also went on to |
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successfully negotiate with the H-E-B supermarket chain to |
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establish a scholarship program for African American students |
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attending historically Black universities; and |
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WHEREAS, In honor of his many achievements, Mr. Bledsoe has |
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received the Kelly Alexander State President of the Year Award, the |
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Juanita Jackson Mitchell Award for Legal Advocacy, and the Benjamin |
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Hooks Keeper of the Flame Award, and he was inducted into the |
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Houston Hall of Fame at Riverside General Hospital; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of his exemplary tenure with the |
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NAACP, Gary Bledsoe has done much to advance the causes of equality |
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and justice in his community, state, and nation, and it is a |
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pleasure to join his peers in recognizing him for his lifelong |
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commitment to these ideals; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Gary Bledsoe for his contributions as |
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president of the Texas NAACP and extend to him sincere best wishes |
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for continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Bledsoe as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |
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Reynolds |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1322 was adopted by the House on May |
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26, 2021, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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